Arlington, Fairfax counties update streetcar pact

Arlington County, Va., board members voted 4-1 Tuesday, July 16, 2013, to support an updated agreement with neighboring Fairfax County to advance the Columbia Pike Streetcar project.

Under the agreement, Arlington will be responsible for just roughly 80% of the cost of the next round of funding. The pact, which authorized $1 million in new funding, also mostly from Arlington County, must be ratified by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

The 4.5-mile streetcar route is planned to run about 4.5 miles from the WMATA's MetroRail Pentagon City Station southwest to the Skyline area near Bailey's Crossroads, Va.

Federal funding assistance has not yet been secured, Arlington County officials acknowledge. Last December the board approved plans to explore a public-private partnership arrangement to advance the project.